Albertus Magnus College to Celebrate Class of 2020 Commencement in September

The Albertus Magnus College Class of 2020, who endured unprecedented change as they completed their degrees online due to the worldwide Coronavirus pandemic, will be saluted in historic fashion in September.  Albertus President Marc M. Camille, Ed.D. has announced that he will confer the more than 400 undergraduate and graduate Class of 2020 degrees at the College’s 97^th Commencement ceremony, which will be held on Sunday, September 27 at 2 p.m. in front of the College’s iconic Rosary Hall. The celebration was moved from May 17 in response to COVID-19 and the state’s Stay Home, Stay Safe order.  The Class of 2020 Commencement ceremony will take place during an historic time, with the exercises happening during the College’s official kick-off week celebrations in recognition of its 95^th anniversary. 

“The Class of 2020 members have proven themselves over the course of their time at Albertus Magnus to be truly Fearless Falcons.  In their final semester with us, the pandemic forced them to be online only, to move out of residence halls, to work from home, care for family members and friends, face financial hardships and more, and yet they persevered and soared.  I received numerous student messages, written with conviction, compassion, and respect, asking for us to give them their earned and desired in-person commencement ceremony.  As President, my single greatest day of joy and privilege each year is Commencement, when I shake the hands of and award diplomas to every graduate.  In rescheduling the Class of 2020 ceremony to the fall, our Albertus community is filled with faith and optimism that we will be able to come together and celebrate our students’ milestone achievement, which will be even more momentous with our 95^th anniversary celebration,” said Dr. Camille. 

Through honorary degrees and distinguished awards, several individuals who represent a wide variety of fields including faith, medicine, education, entrepreneurship, and community, will be recognized for their inspiring, values-based leadership – especially highlighted in these challenging times. 

Chris Lowney, philanthropist, author, and one-time Jesuit seminarian who later served as a managing director of JP Morgan & Co in New York, Tokyo, Singapore, and London, will receive an honorary doctorate degree and deliver remarks to the Albertus graduates. Lowney has authored six non-fiction books and co-authored two more including his bestselling Heroic Leadership and Pope Francis:  Why He Leads the Way He Leads.  Lowney is the vice chairman of the board of CommonSpirit Health, America’s largest non-profit health system.  He also launched an innovative collaboration to offer online university education to refugee camps in Africa, co-founded Contemplative Leaders in Action, an emerging leader formation program now active in a half-dozen cities; and founded Pilgrimage for our Children’s Future, which supports education and healthcare projects among severely impoverished, marginalized communities. 

Marna P. Borgstrom, chief executive officer, Yale-New Haven Health System and Yale-New Haven Hospital, will also receive an honorary doctorate degree – the fifth of her distinguished career.  Borgstrom has served in her current capacity since 2005, beginning her career at Yale-New Haven Hospital more than 40 years ago.  Her experience and steady hand at the helm has proven valuable during these trying times.  She currently chairs the boards of the Healthcare Institute and the Coalition to Protect America’s Healthcare and is the past chair of Vizient, a Dallas-based health care company.  She serves on several other boards including the American Hospital Association, the Connecticut Hospital Association, and New Haven Promise.  She is also director of Cryolife in Atlanta, Georgia. 

The third recipient of an honorary doctorate degree this year is Jeanne M. Dennison ’78, an alumna of Albertus Magnus College, who recently concluded 20 years of service as a trustee of the College.  During this time, she served on the executive and finance committees, chaired the Presidential Search Committee, and for the past four years was the Board Chair.  Her undergraduate internship with Southern New England Telephone Company (SNET) launched a varied career in the telecommunications industry.  At Verizon Communications, she was the Vice President of Human Resources and Public Affairs with Verizon International.  Dennison is a former member of the Board of Directors of Telpri (Puerto Rico Telephone Company) and Verizon Dominicana (Dominican Republic).  Previously, she served as the interim Vice President of Philanthropy at Pace University with responsibility for the Centennial Campaign. 

The fourth honorary doctorate is being presented posthumously to William (Bill) Doyle, a dedicated Albertus Trustee for 20 years, including serving as a member of the Board’s Executive Committee.  He passed away on April 18 after valiantly battling the Coronavirus.  Doyle’s accomplishments were numerous, especially as an attorney.  He was the former head of the litigation practice of Wiggin and Dana and the principal trial lawyer for Yale University for more than 25 years.  In addition to his legal accomplishments and service to the Albertus Community, Doyle was President of the Board of the New Haven Public Library, a board member of the Children’s Center in Hamden, and President of the Board of the New Haven Lawn Club. 

This year’s Albertus Commencement ceremony will mark the second year of the presentation of the St. Dominic Medal, an honor that recognizes an individual or organization whose mission, values, and practices embody the College’s core Dominican values:  Study, Prayer, Community, and Service.  This year, there are two recipients of this prestigious honor. 

Doris Dumas ‘95, president of the NAACP New Haven Chapter, is receiving this recognition for both the chapter’s work and for her work as president.  A native of New Haven and a product of the city’s public school system, “Dori” has become a champion of community service since her graduation from Albertus Magnus College.  For more than 20 years, she’s been an active member of the NAACP, serving as the branch’s vice president for eight years before being elected president.  She has been on the front line of issues that threaten civil rights by speaking on panels, at forums, and community events.  Her zeal for planning and orchestrating community programs has played a vital role in membership growth, mentorship of future leaders, and the success of upholding the organization’s mission.  She is an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. – Theta Epsilon Omega Chapter where she was held many prominent offices, including president.  Dumas is a Clinical Practice Specialist at Yale University and has earned numerous leadership and community awards. 

Jennifer Staple-Clark, founder of Unite For Sight, is the other St. Dominic Medal winner this year.  In 2000, then a sophomore at Yale University, she started the non-profit organization in her dorm room – which is now a leader in global health education and in providing cost-effective eye care to the world’s poorest people, to date serving more than 2.9 million people, including restorative sight surgery for more than 100,000.  Additionally, Staple-Clark and her husband Alexander Clark co-founded Slate School – a K-6 school whose educational mission is focused on cultivating creativity, fostering ingenuity, and inspiring in young children a deep passion for life-long learning.  Staple-Clark has appeared in the New York Times and on CNN International.  She’s a recipient of the John F. Kennedy New Frontier Award for her contributions to the realm of community service, advocacy, and grassroots activism.  She has also received several other honors including the Vision Award for her social entrepreneurship from Middlebury College, the Yale School of Public Health’s Centennial Leadership Innovation Award, and the National Jefferson Award for Public Service.